Man trying to help drunk cyclist ends up getting him arrested

by Michael Harthorne

SEATTLE -- A Good Samaritan trying to help a drunk and possibly injured cyclist ended up getting him arrested for investigation of assault early Friday in Fremont.

According to the Seattle Police Department's report for the incident, a man was riding his bicycle away from a nearby bar around 12:30 a.m. when he crashed into a tree near North 36th Street and Palatine Avenue North and hit his head on the sidewalk.

Three witnesses called 911 and tried to keep the cyclist calm while medics were on their way.

According to the report, the cyclist kept trying to leave the scene and walk home with his bicycle. But, one witness thought the cyclist could be suffering from a head injury, though it was hard to tell because of how drunk he was, and tried to keep him at the scene by holding onto the bicycle.

The cyclist eventually got mad and told the witnesses he was going to beat them up, according to the report. He then grabbed his bicycle seat, which had broken off in the crash, and started swinging it like a hammer.

According to the report, the cyclist hit one of the witnesses in the head with the seat three times, cutting him, before running off.

A Washington State Patrol trooper stopped the cyclist a few blocks away.

Medics determined the cyclist did not need medical attention after all. Instead, the Seattle Police Department determined he needed to be arrested, and he was booked into King County Jail for investigation of assault.